Cape Verde Candidate Investigated for Inciting Crime
The Attorney General’s Office (PGR) of Cape Verde has launched a formal investigation into presidential candidate Gilson Alves, citing concerns over “instigation and public defense of a crime” following a series of controversial campaign stunts and policy proposals.
Hooded Figures and Bladed Weapons
The investigation centers on inflammatory statements made by Alves during television appearances and his pre-election campaign. Authorities are particularly focused on reports of a campaign event held in a “dark location,” where the candidate was allegedly flanked by hooded individuals brandishing knives and other bladed weapons.
Because the investigation involves a registered presidential candidate, the PGR clarified that formal criminal proceedings can only move forward after the election results are officially proclaimed. However, due to the “public and social repercussions” of the case, the Central Department of Criminal Action (DCAP) has been assigned to coordinate the ongoing inquiry.
A Radical Platform
Alves, a medical doctor by profession, is no stranger to the political fringe. His platform includes radical shifts for the Atlantic archipelago, including the implementation of a presidential regime, the reinstatement of the death penalty, and the legal right for citizens to bear arms—measures he proposes deciding via national referendum.
The Race for the Presidency
The investigation comes just weeks before Cape Verdeans head to the polls on November 15. Alves is one of six candidates vying for the nation’s highest office. The full list of contenders includes:
- José Maria Neves: The incumbent President seeking a second term, backed by the ruling African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV).
- Joana Rosa: A former minister supported by the main opposition party, the Movement for Democracy (MpD).
- Antero Tavares: A judge.
- Loisito Sousa: A secondary school teacher.
- Casimiro Pina: A jurist.
- Gilson Alves: A doctor.
This is the second presidential bid for both Alves and Pina. In the 2021 election, Alves garnered only 0.76% of the vote, while Pina secured 1.8%.
Image: Pexels – cottonbro studio
